News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PRIME MINISTER HARPER OUTLINES VISION BASED ON REAL RESULTS FOR A STRONG QUEBEC WITHIN A UNITED CANADA

December 7, 2007
RIVIÈRE-DU-LOUP, QUEBEC

In an address delivered today before the Rivière-du-Loup Chamber of Commerce, Prime Minister Stephen Harper indicated that his Conservative government practises a federalism of openness that respects Quebec's historical, cultural and linguistic distinctiveness and gives it the flexibility and autonomy it needs to maintain its Francophone identity within a strong and united Canada.

"For over 40 years, Quebeckers had to choose between centralization and separation," said the Prime Minister. "They don't want to make that choice any longer, and our government understands that. Quebecers want a strong Quebec within a united Canada."

Prime Minister Harper, who was accompanied by Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, stressed that Ottawa's fiscal policy constitutes a cornerstone of the strategy to modernize the Canadian Federation.

"We recognized the existence of the fiscal imbalance before we even formed government," added the Prime Minister. "Budget 2007, resolved the fiscal imbalance – for real. The recent Speech from the Throne stated that legislation would be tabled to impose explicit limits on the use of federal spending power for new shared-cost programs in areas exclusively under provincial jurisdiction."

The Prime Minister pointed out that the government is harnessing the core strengths of the Canadian economy by cutting taxes and gearing spending to practical initiatives like infrastructure, which will spur growth and prosperity. "We're making sure that our economy remains strong well into the future. But nothing is more important than a solid fiscal policy – results-based spending, paying down the debt and permanent tax relief."

The Prime Minister was in Rivière-du-Loup as part of a tour of the Lower St. Lawrence region, where he met with municipal, local officials and business leaders in Rimouski.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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GOVERNOR GENERAL TO ATTEND THE INAUGURATION OF ARGENTINIAN PRESIDENT-ELECT CRISTINA FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER

December 7, 2007
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to attend the swearing-in of Senator Cristina Fernández de Kirchner as President of Argentina on December 10, 2007.

At the request of the Government of Canada, the Governor General will represent Canada at the official events related to the inauguration of Senator Fernández de Kirchner, elected President on October 28, 2007.

As an example of Canada's re-engagement in the Americas, this visit will highlight the long-standing relationship between Canada and Argentina, and our shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login)]